Peter Keane believes it is patience not expectation that his young Kerry team deserve after scraping past Cork in the Munster final.

The Kingdom were widely predicted to cruise into the Super 8s on the back of winning a seventh provincial title in a row but a second half Rebels resurgence saw Kerry pushed to the pin of their collar.

Keane had worked hard during his first league campaign in charge to shore up Kerry's defensive frailties, but they were all on show at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday night as Kerry coughed up three goals and it could have been double that.

Kerry, who started with five players experiencing a senior Munster final for the first time, did show character to keep their composure in the final 15 minutes after Paul Geaney was sent off and relied on the class of David Clifford, Sean O'Shea and Stephen O'Brien to get them over the line.

At the other end, Tadhg Morley produced two magnificent blocks and Keane said: "We've a very, very young team, it's a team that we're trying to build.

"I think maybe there's a huge expectation on people because of the minor successes that has happened, which is great, you're not going to knock that or give it back.

"But by the same token, you had a half-forward line tonight where Diarmuid O'Connor is 20 this year, Seanie O'Shea is 21, Darragh Moynihan is 21. When do you see that at intercounty level, three lads with an average age of 20 and a half?

"I'm conscious that I'm repeating myself, but that was something that I was very conscious about during the league.

"Four or five lads stepped away from Kerry at the start of the year, or late last year, and as a result of them stepping away, you lost experience on the field.

"And how are these fellahs are going to get experience, only by throwing them in there and having a cut at it. You’re going to have to give them time and see how they get on.”